Opening night of the 360° Tour: Barcelona I, June 30, 2009
Finally, the date has arrived - the first night of the 360° Tour. We will keep you up to speed with what happens in Barcelona this evening. Earlier today, the band ran through a spot of soundchecking. They began with Vertigo, a song with which Edge seemingly had guitar issues at the dress rehearsal yesterday. It was followed by the Crazy Tonight remix twice, Walk On, One, Ultra Violet, Magnificent, and Breathe. The band are now on stage. The setlist is: 1. Breathe / 2. No Line On The Horizon / 3. Get On Your Boots / 4. Magnificent / 5. Beautiful Day / 6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / 7. Angel Of Harlem / Man In The Mirror (snippet) / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (snippet) / 8. In A Little While / 9. Unknown Caller / 10. The Unforgettable Fire / 11. City Of Blinding Lights / 12. Vertigo / 13. Crazy Tonight / 14. Sunday Bloody Sunday / Pride (In The Name Of Love) / MLK / Walk On - Encore(s): Where The Streets Have No Name / One / Ultra Violet (Light My Way) / With Or Without You / Moment of Surrender - Before Beautiful Day, Bono gave a short speech about Barcelona. Angel Of Harlem is dedicated to Michael Jackson. Before Unknown Caller, the "Space Chat" is revealed - a live link-up with the International Space Station. During this segment, one of the astronauts joined the One Campaign from space. Crazy Tonight is again the re-invented remix version; Larry even ventures out onto the catwalk with a drum during the song. During Walk On, people are on stage wearing those tacky Aung San Suu Kyi masks - but it seems the crowd are not in a hurry to join in on trivialising her plight. The main set ends with Walk On. The pre-recorded Desmond Tutu speech leads into Streets to open the encore. Streets features distinctive red lighting. Bono talks a fair bit between Streets and One and puts on an FC Barcelona shirt. The performance of One is marred by error and falls apart. The band take a second encore break after it and return with Ultra Violet. Moment Of Surrender closes the concert. source: U2gigs - Pics:yahoo - The Masks:twitpic - Photos, vidros:U2log * U2tour.de * atU2
Countdown to 360 - 0 Days - 30 June 2009 - Showtime tonight and here's a last-minute mix of some of the highlights of Adam's video clips from the last three weeks. U2.com
Outside Camp Nou - 30 June 2009 - Magnificent, Vertigo, Angel of Harlem.. who knows ? Tell us three songs you're hoping the band will feature when the tour opens. That's what we asked fans outside the venue in Barcelona yesterday. U2.com
From Aloha to Camp Nou - 30 June 2009
Spanish fans waiting for opening night in Barcelona were also at the band's last show - in Hawaii in 2006. But it's ok... they went home in between. And tonight they've got a cunning plan to celebrate the band's arrival on stage. U2.com
Wednesday, 10th June 2009. Barcelona. Production build. ... U2.com - numbview
Shoot The Show, Post Your Video - 30 June 2009 - We know you want to post video of 360 shows on U2.com...so now you can. Here's how. ... U2.com - numbview
THIS DAY U2'S HISTORY: in Basel / Edge and Bono were at REM show in Dublin
"ZOOTV- Zooropa" tour - june 30, 1993 - Basel, Switzerland - Jakob's Stadion - Support is Velvet Underground.
Edge and Bono were at REM show in Dublin -June 30, 2007
Bono and Edge were at the first of R.E.M.'s 5-Night Dublin. They were sitting in one of the fancy boxes with Gavin Friday, Guggi, and their wives. (Pretty sure it was Morleigh anyway. It was hard to see). Michael Stipe thanked Bono and Edge at the beginning. It was a cool gig. The venue is really small. They're calling them 'Working Rehearsals' so they did ten brand new songs. The older songs were all from the early 80's except for two gems from New Adventures in Hi-Fi (U2's Pop I reckon, i.e. incredible yet some somewhat unappreciated album). Peter Buck actually seemed to be enjoying performing which is very out of character for him! Stipe was singing most of the lyrics from a laptop. by DublinGuy, on Interference - Read more on remhq
U2 played the dress rehearsal for their U2360 tour in Barcelona on Monday evening (June 29 2009) for invited guests only. No fans were let in, but around 300 people had gathered outside queuing up for Tuesday’s opening night of the tour.
This is what U2 played: Breathe / No Line on the Horizon / Get On Your Boots / Magnificent / Beautiful Day (snippet: Blackbird) / I Still Haven’t Found / Angel of Harlem (snippet: Man in the Mirror) / In a Little While / Unknown Caller / The Unforgettable Fire / City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Crazy Tonight / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Pride / MLK / Walk on (snippet: You’ll never walk alone) / Desmond Tutu speech - Where the Streets Have No Name / One / Ultraviolet / With or Without You / (live setlist reporting courtesy of U2gigs.com) source: U2log
Outside Camp Nou- 29 June 2009 - video - Magnificent, Vertigo, Angel of Harlem.. who knows ? Tell us three songs you're hoping the band will feature on opening night. That's what we asked fans outside the venue in Barcelona yesterday. source: U2.com
Essence Fest is full of New Orleans funk, short on Jazz - In an unprecedented move, it was announced a full year in advance that Beyoncé would perform at the Essence Music Festival in 2009 (July 3-5). The word came directly from the stage in the New Orleans Superdome arena and was greeted with a roar of approval. Because Essence Fest boasts loyal fans who return each year to reunite with friends at the “Party with a Purpose,” many in the crowd undoubtedly were in the audience for Beyoncé’s spectacular performance at the event in 2007. Historically, it’s sure to rank right up there with the memorable sets from the likes of Aretha Franklin, who appeared at the first event in 1995, Stevie Wonder (1996 and 2003) and Prince (2004). ... full article: louisianaweekly
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: parking area by the docks / "My Hometown" to Bob Hewson - Croake Park (the place where happened the Bloody Sunday in nov 21, 1920) / "Can´t Help Falling In Love" / "It's Not Unusual" / AMERICAN MORNING - Singer and activist Bono one year after the "Live 8" concert /It's announced that U2 listened to a rough mix of their album (NLOTH)!
"War" tour - june 29, 1983. U2 perform in New York City, New York at Pier 84. The show is a large open-air show in a parking area by the docks. In the distance, is the USS Enterprise, an aircraft carrier of the US Navy. The sponsor is Miller Beer, which helps keep ticket prices low. A local TV crew filming the event for the news is dragged onto the stage by Bono, who exclaims, "Come here, film these people," and launches into a speech about this tour being the "War on Boring Music Tour". Bono points the cameras out into the crowd and says, "These people are here because they are sick to the teeth of what they're hearing on the radio and TV. They're here because they believe in rock & roll, like I do - not Wallpaper Music..." Support is "The Alarm". The tour grosses nearly $2 million and marks the first time U2 makes money while touring.
"The Unforgettable Fire" tour - june 29, 1985. U2 perform in Dublin, Ireland at Croke Park in front of 57,000 people. DJ Dave Fanning introduces the band, "Now they're back! They have conquered the world. Are you ready for the greatest live rock & roll show you will ever see? Welcome back Bono, Larry, Adam and The Edge: U2!" Bono introduces "Sunday Bloody Sunday": "This is a song I wish we didn't have to write--but we had to write it, and we want to play it. One day Irishmen will stop fighting each other over the past. They will live and work together in the present. This is not the future..." The original Bloody Sunday happened in Croake Park itself on November 21, 1920. U2 are joined by violinist Steve Wickham for the song. U2 perform Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" which Bono dedicates to his father. Backstage after the show, Bono was overheard in a conversation: "For an Irishman to be standing on that stage just means so much, not just for us(U2), but for all Irishmen." U2 donate their proceeds from the show to the building of rehearsal rooms for young bands that cannot affort their own equipment. The building, called "The City Centre" opens in June 1989. U2 donate the proceeds from this show to the building of a music rehearsal center for young bands without equipment and a place to practice called The City Centre, which opened in June, 1989. Support for the concert is "In Tua Nua", "REM", "The Alarm" and "Squeeze".
"Bono vocers Elvis for Hollywood" - june 29, 1992. Bono tucks himself away in the STS Studios for the night to record his solo version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" for the upcoming Honeymoon in Vegas movie soundtrack.
"POPMart" tour - june 29, 1997 / Chicago, IL - Soldier Field - Fun Lovin' Criminals - Edge´s karaoke this night is "It's Not Unusual".
AMERICAN MORNING - Singer and activist Bono one year after the "Live 8" concert. Did aid to Africa live up to its promise? Promises to Africa; Democrats & Religion - Aired June 29, 2006 - 07:34 ET - THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. ... I don't think what's happening in Africa, with AIDS in particular and just the poverty and despair there, is a cause. I think it's an emergency. And lots of people have causes, and I have. But 69,000 people die ever day -- not a cause, an emergency. ... Bono is the only person to be nominated for a Grammy, an Oscar and the Noble Peace Prize. ... Thanks. Thanks for having us on. ... Well, there's good news and bad news, the DATA report shows. There's a couple of high grades to be given. Maybe we should start with those. I mean, just in the United States, you should be very proud that you have a truly historic AIDS initiative. It was an unfathomable, even a few years ago, to imagine that you could get, I think it's probably 600,000 people on anti-retroviral drugs in an 18- month period. On motorcycles and on bicycles, those drugs got out there, and I think you should be very proud about that. Though, that said, Congress in the last months have tried to block the president's request for his AIDS money for next year, and that, that's bewildering. You know, I was just in Africa a few weeks ago, and there's kids following me around like I'm a hero. They think I'm American. I don't explain where Ireland is. And I'm saying, you know, the reason she's following me around is because her mother, her father, her sister, her brother, all HIV-positive, all going to die, but these drugs are on their way from America. ... And she thinks I'm a hero. The idea of going back to that kid and saying actually, the Congress cut the budget, sorry about that, is just obscene. ... Soledad, you're exactly right. And I think the cavalry here are going to turn out to be the American people. They're organizing in ways that are very inspiring, across the political spectrum, you know. There's two -- I think it's maybe 2.2 million Americans have joined the one campaign recently, one.org, because they're serious about this. They're soccer moms. They're student activists. They're NASCAR dads. They're hip-hop stars. I mean, it's not just rock stars and policy wonks that are on this. And I think it says something deep about the way Americans feel about America right now, which is, they do not like to see their flag disrespected in far- off places around the world. They're very proud of this AIDS initiative. They want to put kids in schools, because they know that Democracy is being taught in those schools. I was in a school in Abuja with Gordon Brown, the finance minister, the chancellor of (INAUDIBLE), the U.K. And next door to where we were sitting, there was a class being taught in Nigeria about democracy, complicated questions that the kids could easily answer. A thousand miles from there in northern Nigeria, there are madrassas where children are being taught to hate us. So I think that it's a missed opportunity not to keep the promises made in the G8 and get more kids to school. Because of the debt cancellation movement -- that's another thing I want to give a good mark on, debt cancellation. They did follow through on that, and when I was recently in Africa, 15 million more kids were going to school, because of the drop-the-debt movement. And all the people that got out on the streets there should, you know, should give themselves a high five. That was really something. But there's 40 million more African children that want to go to school who can't, and in these dangerous times it might be just smart to get them to school. So, unless we keep track of these promises and fulfill them, they won't go to school. So that's the kind of yin and yang of this DATA report. ...That used to be true. The Cold War was fought on the African continent, and we in the West propped up some very dangerous dictators by giving them loans and throwing aid at them, because they were not communists. And we can't then point to the waste of those resources as just their fault. Anyway, that era is over. Now we only increase aid to countries where we can see that they're tackling corruption, where there's a clear and transparent process. If there's not, we pull out. In Ethiopia, things were looking great for a while, and then we couldn't see where the money was going, people pulled out. In Uganda, the Global Fund, this extraordinary organization that gets AIDS drugs to people and fights TB and malaria, they pulled out of Uganda because they couldn't see the -- where the money was going. It's a new era of aid, and I think Americans will become much more generous when they know that the money is being spent well. And I can assure you, with the Millennium Challenge corporation supported in Congress, that's what will happen. ... I think the dawning of on the body politick that this strategic value in dealing with Africa's problems. It's a 40 percent Muslim country. A country like Nigeria is a big oil-producing country. And it would be awful to see Nigeria get into trouble. I think then just at the grassroots level, as we get into the 2008 election, I think politicians will be wise to pay attention to this movement, because it will be five million by then. And you know, that's like -- that's real political muscle. This -- by 2008, we won't be tin cupping, oh please, please, you know, the poor come bowing around the back corridors of Congress. This is what the American people want. We're looking at not even one percent of the GDP of the United States. We're looking not even at .5 of a percent of the GDP. The United States is at .22. It's a fraction of a single point. So when Americans see that you can transform millions and millions of lives around the world and critically transform the way they see us in these dangerous times, they will prevail. And history is on our side here. This -- we will win. Right now, we're -- there's people dragging their feet, but we will prevail. And by you giving us access on your program, CNN, supporting us like you do in your Africa stories, you make it a lot easier. So thank you. ... Read whole transcription on cnn
It's announced that U2 listened to a rough mix of their album (NLOTH) - June 29, 2008 - Last Friday (June 27, 2008) week, in Dublin, U2 listened to a rough mix of their album - Adam's mystery date - By Barry Egan - Sunday June 29 2008 - TWO hearts beating as one? Adam Clayton was dining a deux with a mystery lady last week in Expresso Bar in Dublin. Has the dapper U2 bassist found what he's looking for? I, for one, certainly hope so. Early last year, he sadly broke up with his fiancee, Suzy Smith. (Adam and Canadian beauty Suzy had chosen St Valentine's Day 2006 to get engaged. They had been going out for eight years. Another time, another country, and besides...). My Deep Throat in the U2 camp refused to be drawn on Adam's new romance, as if I would tell anyone that three months ago, Adam started seeing a girl who worked in a bank. "She looks very similar to Suzy. It was a very low-key relationship, if it is still on. That's all I know." I know, however, that last Friday week, in Dublin, U2 listened to a rough mix of their album. Presumably, there was some celebrating in Han(g)over Quay afterwards. - Barry Egan source: independent
In a little over forty eight hours the world gets to see the groundbreaking new 360 stage design and Adam and Edge are in last minute negotiations about... where to put the amps. Adam reaches for the tape measure.
There are scores of talented people heading out on the road with U2 in 2009. Carpenters, caterers, camera crews, riggers, runners, roadies... So what do they do in this travelling circus ? Where are they during the show ? And how did they get to work with U2? As the tour heads out from Barcelona across Europe, we figured it would be a good moment to start inviting the people in the crew to tell us what they do and how it works. Our story of 'Life on 360' starts high above the stage. watch the video: U2.com
Saturday Night, Two Days To Go - 28 June 2009
There's only a couple of days to go now and last night the band arrived on stage late and went through the whole of the new show until... very late. Our lips are sealed on what tracks they played - if you want to find out, it's not difficult, but if you don't want to we're not about to spoil the surprise. But here's a few clues. Seems like the band are intent on really mixing things up on this tour. Following all those weeks of rehearsals in Dublin, they're sounding very tight musically and at Camp Nou they're focussed on the production - how to make themselves at home on a breathtaking new stage, how to be 360 for two and a half hours. They've rehearsed thirty-plus tracks and last night ran through more than two thirds - as well as a cracking selection from No Line, we counted songs from EIGHT different albums. Also noticed one or two familiar songs have been... reimagined. Going to be at one of the first shows in Barcelona ? How you getting prepared ? What are you expecting ? Seen the band before - got any advice for people seeing them for the first time ? Countdown two days.... source: U2.com
"U2 believe the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi and every night on the 360 Tour fans are being invited to wear the mask when the band play Walk On, which was written for her."
(Speakers: Anthony DeCurtis/ Neil McCormick/ Agnes Nyamayarwo/ Jim Henke / Matt McGee). A conference exploring the music, work and influence of U2. U2conference (thanks Debbie: zootopian ultraviolet_love14).
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: McGonagle´s / Steve Wickham joins the band / U2 stop the rehearsal in Croke Park / The Unforgettable Fire exhibition opens in Dublin / Bono joins Jim Kerr / Lou Reed joins U2 / "Daydream Believer" / U2 takes its former stylist to court / 'U2 Uncovered' !
"Early Ireland" - june 28, 1979. U2 perform in Dublin, Ireland at McGonagle's.
"War" tour - june 28, 1983. U2 perform in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Centrum. Violinist Steve Wickham joins the band for "Sunday Bloody Sunday". During the encore of "Party Girl", Bono gets mobbed by a dozen female fans, one of which hancuffs herself to his ankle. Roadie Dennis Sheehan cuts her loose, and the rest of the group behave themselves on stage. Bono tells them, "Any other city in the world, we would have a riot right now..." The show generates revenues of $116,145US for the band--five times their average. The show is the largest show to date, in which the band has headlined. Support is "The Alarm"
"The Unforgettable Fire" tour - june 28 1985 U2 are rehearsing in Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland when the headmaster from a school over a half mile away complains that the sound is disturbing students that are attempting to write exams. U2 immediately stop the rehearsal. That evening, "The Unforgettable Fire" exhibit opens in Dublin. U2 have paid for the exhibit to be transported temporarily to Grapevine Arts Centre in Dublin, Ireland from the Chicago Peace Museum. Bono is interviewed by RTE as he walks through the rooms of the exhibit, "An enormous exercise for themselves, the fear they felt over the holocaust and the bombs being dropped in Nagasaki and Hiroshima--they just painted. And that's what got me, even more than the paintings: just the idea that people should use art, if you like paint on canvas, to get something out of themselves. I suppose it's a bit like what we do with our music, that's the way we get it out of us. And it stuck on me, and when I was writing the words for 'The Unforgettable Fire', it just came back."
"Bono joins Jim Kerr" - june 28, 1986. "Simple Minds" perform in Dublin, Ireland at Croke Park. Opening act, "In Tua Nua" perform "Two Hearts Beat as One". Bono makes a guest appearance with "Simple Minds" and is introduced by lead singer, Jim Kerr as "...my friend, until the bitter end..." They sing a medley of "Lovesong", "Sun City", and "Dance To The Music".
"The Joshua Tree" tour - june 28, 1987. U2 perform in Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Attendance for both shows is 114,000. The band are much more relaxed on the second night than on the first. In the rain of the second night, Bono sings parts of the Beatle's "Rain". Lou Reed joins the band for a version of "Walk on the Wild Side". Second night support is Christy Moore, "The Pretenders", Lou Reed and "Hothouse Flowers".
U2 takes its former stylist to court - june 28, 2005. Bono, Larry, and Paul McGuinness are in Dublin Circuit Civil Court today attempting to get back items that are in the possession of their former stylist, Lola Cashman. Cashman had previously tried to sell items that she says the band had given her as a gift, including pants, a hat, earrings, and other material from her days working with the band during the Joshua Tree tour.
'U2 Uncovered'- june 28, 2005 - ITV1 - Tonight's one-hour special from behind the scenes of the 'Vertigo Tour' with Cat Deeley. Cat was in Manchester the other day, film crew in tow, spending hour after hour talking to band and crew as well as filming part of the show. The results of this air tonight at 11.30pm in 'U2 Uncovered'....'To be part of the extended U2 family, even for just a day,' says Cat, 'Is a dream come true. I¹ve had the immeasurable pleasure of interviewing the 'loudest folk band in the world' (to quote Bono) several times before, and still I can never predict what is going to happen or where we'll end up....'Larry, Adam, Bono and The Edge are four of the most charismatic, incredibly funny, self deprecating men I've ever met, and they just happen to be in the biggest rock band in the world. So how do I feel about doing this show ? Three words: can't bloody wait!' Neither can we. Tonight, 11.30pm, ITV1.
Three days to the first show and Adam and Edge are putting in some final rehearsal time on the new stage. Anyone guess what they're playing ? (Answers at the bottom of the page.. way down.) source: U2.com
Rehearsal: Mysterious ways / ´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight (remix) / Sunday bloody sunday / Walk on / Where the streets have no name / Desmond Tutu ..... Breathe / No line on the horizon / Get on your boots / Magnificent / Beautiful day / I still haven´t found what I´m looking for + Moving on up Primal Scream / Drowning man / Angel of Harlem / Mysterious ways / In a little while /Unknown caller ( Barcelona I know your name) / The unforgettable fire / City of blinding ligths / Vertigo / I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight (remix) / Sunday bloody sunday / Pride (in the name of love) / MLK / Walk on + You´ll never walk alone / Desmon Tutu /Where the streets have no name / One / Ultraviolet / With or without you / Moment of surrender/.
'Everyone's in a great mood...' 27 June 2009
Spanish press in the house last night, first chance for the media to check out the new production. Some of the key players in the production were on hand to explain how it's all come together, including the band's manager Paul McGuinness and Mark Fisher, the co-designer of the new stage production. 1. 'It's a perfect stadium for us to open the tour,' said Paul McGuinness. 'There's no running track around the pitch, the seats are close to the stage and Barcelona have just won the Champions League so everyone's in a great mood!' 2. The band have rehearsed more than thirty songs but the set list is changing at every rehearsal - nothing is set in stone for Tuesday. 3. Ever since he was a fresh-faced architecture student, Mark Fisher has loved the Catalan visionary Antoni Gaudi. 'So when people here in Barcelona say to me that the new production reminds them in some way of Gaudi... that means a lot to me!' 4. Three stages will leapfrog each other across Europe and North America between shows. Sound, lights and screens will be loaded out after each show and head straight to the next city. 5.'It would be crazy if they weren't a bit nervous about the opening of a new show,' explained Paul McGuinness. ' It's a very complicated production but that's why we've been here for a while now, rehearsing the production, as much as the music.' 6. Mark Fisher: 'The inspiration was to create something that would sit in the middle of the stadium and make everyone feel like they were really close to the band and make the band feel like they are really close to the audience.' source: U2.com - numbview
Beautiful day in Barcelona as U2's magnificent stage gets final touches
By Caitrina Cody - Saturday June 27 2009 - THE sun is shining at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium -- and U2's futuristic new stage, above and right, is taking shape. The band kick off their '360' tour in the Spanish city on Tuesday and will take in 14 European cities over the summer. The spectacular stage will allow Bono and the boys to perform in the middle of the stadium, so that fans will surround the band on all sides. Four days before U2 play their first date, technicians were still putting the final touches to the canopied structure that hovers over the stage. Lights and lasers are expected to play an important role in the show, and rumours abound that the circular stage may revolve, giving every fan a bird's eye view of the proceedings. Costing more than €100m to stage and running for the next 18 months, the band has already sold some 2.5 million tickets for its dates throughout Europe and North America as they showcase their latest album, 'No Line on the Horizon'. Meanwhile, glimpses of the plans for the Croke Park concert dates show that the stage will be set up near the Canal End with no backstage area. U2 will play in Croke Park, Dublin, on July 24, 25 and 27, with around 80,000 fans expected to attend each night. - Caitrina Cody - source: independent.ie - numbview
Lights, camera, action - 27 June 2009
It's hot, it's sunny, it's Barcelona and the Spanish press are at Camp Nou to meet the big hitters behind the 360 Tour production. Three days till Tuesday's opening night and the excitement is building. The band are rehearsing, the creative team are finalising the look and feel of the new show, the crew are working flat out... and the U2.com team are in the house. Check out this new clip we shot as the media descended on Camp Nou yesterday. So what do you think of the stage ? Click below to see (everything inside the site).source: U2.com
I haven't seen such a vast and expansive P.A. in all my life. They'll probably hear us in Dublin when it gets turned on.
'Load-in with an audience' - 27 June 2009 - Day two of the production build in Barcelona with Willie's latest tour diaries and the strange experience of 'doing a load-in with an audience'. ... source: U2.com - numbview
U2 Encourage Mask-Wearing Protest - 06/26/09 5:16pm - by Jason MacNeil (CHARTattack) - U2 are on the cusp of their 360 Tour, and are asking fans to remember Burmese democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi by wearing a mask featuring her face. "U2 believe the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi and every night on the 360 Tour fans are being invited to wear the mask when the band play 'Walk On,' which was written for her," the band's website said today. "Put it on with thousands of others when Larry [Mullen, Jr., drums] and Edge [guitar] strike up the opening bars of 'Walk On.'" A downloadable mask is on the site with directions, but you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to print the file. "Wear it to work or college," the post on the website reads. "Wear it on the bus or the train. Wear it in the pub or at the shops. And don't forget. Bring it to a U2 show." Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and won elections in Burma in 1990, but the military junta refused to accept the results. She has spent most of the last 19 years under house arrest. Suu Kyi was recently tried for violating the terms of her house arrest after an uninvited visitor swam across Inya Lake in Yangon, Burma to visit her house twice. The trial was widely condemned as a sham by the United Nations and western nations. U2 start their world tour in Barcelona on Tuesday. The tour, which is in support of the recently released No Line On The Horizon, hits Toronto in mid-September. You can see U2 here: June 30, July 2 Barcelona, Spain @ Nou Camp / July 7-8 Milan, Italy @ San Siro / July 11-12 Paris, France @ Stade De France / July 15 Nice, France @ Parc Charles Ehrmann / July 18 Berlin, Germany @ Olympic Stadium / July 20-21 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Arena / July 24-25, 27 Dublin, Ireland @ Croke Park / July 31-Aug. 1 Gothenburg, Sweden @ Ullevi / Aug. 3 Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Veltins-Arena / Aug. 6 Chorzow, Poland @ Slaski Stadium / Aug. 9-10 Zagreb, Croatia @ Maksimir Stadium / Aug. 14-15 London, England @ Wembley Stadium / Aug. 18 Glasgow, Scotland @ Hampden Park / Aug. 20 Sheffield, England @ Don Valley Stadium / Aug. 22 Cardiff, Wales @ Millennium Stadium / Sept. 12-13 Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field / Sept. 16-17 Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre / Sept. 20-21 Boston, MA @ Gillette Stadium / Sept. 24-25 New York, NY @ Giants Stadium / Sept. 29 Hyattsville, MD @ FedEx Field / Oct. 1 Charlottesville, VA @ Scott Stadium / Oct. 6 Atlanta, GA @ Georgia Dome / Oct. 9 Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium / Oct. 25 Pasadena, CA @ Rose Bowl / Oct. 28 Vancouver, BC @ BC Place Stadium chartattack - numbview
U2 came up with the mask idea because "the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi"upi
In Spanish...the inspiration for this stage started 4 years agounder Hawaii's sky, having images painted by Gaudi - They will back to Spain in 2010 ... source: elpais
Eminem, Flaming Lips, Jane's Addiction Headline New Orleans Fest. D12, Silversun Pickups, and the Black Keys will also play at the Voodoo Experience this fall. The lineup for New Orleans' Voodoo Experience music festival has been unveiled, and it's packed with some of music's heaviest hitters: Eminem, the Flaming Lips, and Jane's Addiction are scheduled to headline the event, which will take place Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at the Big Easy's City Park. ... Other highlights include Kiss, Gogol Bordello, Wolfmother, Justice, the Black Keys, Eagles of Death Metal, Ween, Silversun Pickups, Janelle Monae, the Cool Kids, the Black Lips, and Mates of State. ... full article: spin
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: show added at last minute / Bono introduces Edge as Rory Gallagher in Croke Park / "Sweet Caroline" / 38th VERTIGO show (Croke Park III): EXTRAORDINARY-European debut for 6 songs-2nd encore-the show is filmed! It's party time for the 3rd and final Dublin gig / Lanois talks about Jimi Hendrix and Cedars of Lebanon / Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday (Bono and The Edge from U2 have recorded a version of Happy Birthday) / Bono's letter to NME about Radiohead!
"War" tour - june 27, 1983. U2 perform in New Haven, Connecticut at the Coliseum. The show was a last minute addition to the tour. This is the second arena-sized date, and the building is only half-filled. Support is Marshall Crenshaw, and "The Alarm".
"The Joshua Tree" tour - june 27, 1987. U2 perform in Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Attendance for both shows is 114,000. On the first night, Irish DJ Dave Fanning introduces U2 to a capacity crowd for U2's homecoming concert: "Allright...listen! Are you ready? Okay, they have thir clothes on...it's been two long years since Croke Park, so please welcome, back to Dublin...U2!" The crowd reply electrically, and the band has trouble getting rid of the tension of playing their hometown gig; when Bono starts singing "Where the Streets Have No Name" he misses his cue by a second or two. Bono is extremely talkative and expressive on this night, "When we started this group in 1977, I was 17, Edge was 15, Larry still is 15, Adam was 17 going on 70--a wise man. We didn't know where we were going, we just wanted to go there together. Ten years later, 1987. Croke Park. Our journey isn't over yet..," and then The Edge cut into "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." "A Sort of Homecoming" is played for the last time on the tour, and hasn't been played since. Bono introduces "People Get Ready" as an "American gospel song we picked up", and invites a guitarist from the audience to play along with the band. During the encore of "Party Girl", Bono introduces The Edge as Rory Gallagher. At the end of the song, Bono's wife Ali Hewson comes on stage to serve champagne to the band. "Mmmm...Imagine being married to that, whooo!" Bono shouts to the crowd. Support for the first night is "Light a Big Fire", "The Dubliners", "The Pogues" and Lou Reed.
"POPMart" tour - june 27, 1997. U2 perform in Chicago, Illinois. U2 purchase 3 dozen pizzas for the fans waiting outside their hotel. Edge´s karaoke this night is "Sweet Caroline".
38th 'VERTIGO' show - june 27, 2005 - Dublin, Ireland - Croke Park - Ash, The Bravery. EXTRAORDINARY / European debut for 6 songs / 2nd encore / the show is filmed! It's party time for the 3rd and final Dublin gig. Gloria, An Cat Dubh - Into the Heart, Original of the Species, Bad, and 40 all make their European Tour debuts. After Vertigo ends the show, U2 returns for two more songs in an unplanned 2nd encore. Tonight's show, like Saturday's, is filmed. Edge and Bono. Adam. Edge. Larry. Edge and Bono singing. 'This next song is about patience, it's a beautiful song - Original of the Species - for the ones you leave behind. Original of the Species.' An ecstatic version of Bad gives way to City of Blinding Lights ( 'Blinding lights brings on the night') with Bono showing some love to the Cusack Stand to an ovation of applause before Christopher Nolan receives a moving dedication at the beginning of Miracle Drug. 'Freely elected leader of Burma, great leader of human rights, lets sing to her tonight.' During Streets, Bono sings to Adam, way down the b-stage, with Bono taking a flag and bringing it up on stage - 'Make Poverty History'....'These decisions are made at the last minute So still need everyone to get involved..'...the band return to the stage with a dedication to friends and family, management, Paul McGuinness, crew and the 'wonderful Sharon Blankson'. And there's still time for Yahweh and 40. What a benediction! What a night! A touching moment in a show that tugged at the heart repeatedly. 'If the children don't grow up, our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up,' goes the song to which the band take to the stage. It might have been a Virgin Prunes lyric, a coda to the Lypton Village motto to never, ever, grow up. Children featured heavily this final Dublin show: The Edge had Bono dedicate to a 'Bernadette' of Crumlin's Children's hospital and 'Into the Heart' went out to Crumlin's staff. Many times during the show Bono let himself go, riding the waves and soaking up the energy coming off the audience, arms spread out, embracing the moment. These are the moments that become memories for the band, their crew and their fans. Somo photos on:
Lanois talks about Jimi Hendrix and Cedars of Lebanon - June 27, 2008 - "Lanois will shortly be returning from Ireland where he’s been recently working on some serious projects, more specifically the new album by a certain Irish ensemble... “The U2 album is practically finished,” he reveals. “I’m very happy with what’s been achieved. We’ve particularly developed the bass sound. I think this will be one of the group’s great records, an innovative record in every way.” re. Hendrix, Lanois says: “Jimi comes to see me from time to time... In fact, I bumped into him in the studio recently. He inspired me to find a brand new sound which can be heard for the first time in a new U2 song, called The Cedars of Lebanon...” - Transaltion by Mama Cass from interference - source: voir
Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday -June 27, 2008 - International music and film stars are performing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in London's Hyde Park. ... Bono and The Edge from U2 have recorded a version of Happy Birthday - this will be shown on big screens during the show. ... source: bbc - To watch: 46664. U2 WERE forced to pulled out of a planned trip to help Nelson Mandela celebrate his 90th birthday party - to concentrate on their latest album. The supergroup were due to join a host of other stars at London's Hyde Park on Friday for a special concert. But the group backed out at the last minute - with Bono and The Edge sending a video message instead. The millionaire rockers are holed up in their Hanover Quay studios in Dublin putting the final touches to their new album which is expected to be released in October. A source close to the band said they were bitterly disappointed they couldn't make the party. "The band have always been supporters of the anti-apartheid movements and became personal friends with Mr Mandela. They wanted to go but are simply snowed under," said the source. Dozens of stars including Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Leona Lewis and Coldplay sang for the world's most famous former prisoner. Andrea Corr flew the flag for Ireland with a haunting duet with Queen guitarist Brian May. A staggering 46,664 people, Mandela's former prisoner number, attended the concert.
Bono's letter to NME about Radiohead - June 27, 2008 - "here's the letter from this week's NME: BONO WRITES - I wanted to set the record straight on behald of the members of U2 on comment made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manager, Paul McGuinness, rearding Radiohead's decision to make the music of 'In Rainbows' available as a download, using the 'honesty box' idea for payment. We agree with our manager that this is a head-scratching and worrisome time for many musicians who, unlike ourselves, are depending on royalty or publishing cheques to pay the rent (particularly songwriters). We also agree that it is disturbing to see so-called 'disintermediation' of the music business [the cutting out of middlemen such as record shops, labels etc. between listeners and musicians caused by the internet - Ed] when so many music lovers are losing their jobs. And while there is no doubt that it's extremely difficult for new artists to get the kind of investment on which U2 depended in the first few wobbly years of recording, we disagree with Paul's assessment of Radiohead's release as "having backfired to a certain extent". We think they were courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience. Such imagination and courage are in short supply right now...they're a sacred talent and we feel blessed to be around at the same time. With respect, Bono" - by JIM from interference
Rehearsal: Bono is out off the stadium afternoon. After 9 p.mp starts: Magnificent / Get on your boots / Magnificent / The unforgettable fire / Angel of Harlem / Drowning man / Drowning man / Angel of Harlem / Angel of Harlem / Mysterious ways / The unforgettable fire / City of blinding ligths / vertigo / The Edge with some chords: City of blinding ligths and Vertigo / City of blinding ligths (full / Vertigo / I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight (remix) / Sunday bloody sunday / Moment of surrender.
Walk On - 26 June 2009 - WEAR THE MASK
In 2009 U2 fans at every show will be reminding the world of the plight of Burma's democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi has been described as Asia's Nelson Mandela. Her party, the National League for Democracy, won elections in 1990 but the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Since that day most of her time has been spent under house arrest. U2 believe the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi and every night on the 360 Tour fans are being invited to wear the Mask when the band play Walk On, which was written for her. Download your own Mask here - you will need adobe acrobat to print the file. Put it on with thousands of others when Larry and Edge strike up the opening bars of Walk On. Wear it to to show the world that you have not forgotten. 'Please use your liberty to promote ours' says Aung San Suu Kyi. Use your liberty to promote hers.And the liberty of the people of Burma. WEAR THE MASK. ... source: U2.com - numbview
U2's live references to Michael Jackson - By now, undoubtedly most of you will have heard that Michael Jackson has passed away after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 50. As soon as his death was confirmed, online setlist discussion immediately turned to speculation about whether U2 would pay tribute to Jackson at their forthcoming concerts through snippets or other commemoration. Bono has been known to tribute deceased famous musicians through song, such as Never Tear Us Apart snippetry after Michael Hutchence passed away and short performances of I Remember You in honour of Joey Ramone. If he does so, it won't be the first time he has acknowledged Jackson's life and music during U2 concerts. As our tribute to Jackson's contribution, let's have a look at those moments that happened during Jackson's lifetime. It is known that Bono has snippeted two Michael Jackson songs in concert. The first was Billie Jean. Originally from 1982's Thriller album and released as a single at the start of 1983, it had taken the charts by storm by the time of its first recorded snippet at a U2 concert on 6 March 1983 in Portsmouth. During this early period of U2's live history, Bono did not snippet nearly as often or as heavily as he does today. The Portsmouth snippet was in Surrender, the first snippet to be sung during that song. It was done fourteen more times on the War Tour - fairly routinely during the European leg, then more sporadically during the North American leg. It made just one appearance at a European festival in 1983, on the 2nd of July in Torhout. This was the last time it was snippeted on the War Tour, and all fifteen of these known snippets were during Surrender. Billie Jean was snippeted once more a few years later, bringing its total known appearances to sixteen. On the War and Unforgettable Fire Tours, Surrender was often followed by Two Hearts Beat As One, and that is the song in which Billie Jean made its final appearance. On 27 December 1989, U2 played Two Hearts Beat As One for the only time since 29 April 1985, and at the end, Bono made reference to Billie Jean. The second Jackson song Bono has snippeted is Rock With You, the second single from Jackson's break-through album Off The Wall. Released in 1979, Bono did not snippet it until 2001, and he only snippeted it once. It was included in a performance of Mysterious Ways in Chicago on 16 May 2001, along with a snippet of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing. As far as we presently know, this is the full extent of live U2 snippets of Michael Jackson's work. There are no known Jackson 5 snippets. Perhaps the most famous live reference to Jackson at a U2 concert was not even a snippet. It took place during the 28 August 1993 concert in Dublin, amidst the media furore over pedophilia allegations made against Jackson. At the start of Bad (undoubtedly intentional due to Jackson's popular song and album of the same name), Bono succinctly spoke his mind about the claims and the hype. He stated simply: "Michael Jackson, if you're out there, I don't believe you're bad. Guilty before you've been given a chance."RIP Michael Jackson, 29 August 1958 - 25 June 2009. Source: U2gigs
Rest in peace....
...rest in peace King of the Pop. With an amazing talent, was in Brazil for 3 times: September 1974, with Jackson Five, played in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte; October 1993, with two shows at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo (from where this photo was taken) and in 1996 to record a clipe to his song 'They Don't Care About Us', at Favela Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro and at Pelourinho, in Salvador, as you can watch at youtube. I don't want talk about his private life, but about his career as a singer, dancer, really he was a genius; he had rhythm and vibe; always will be on my mind. Rest in peace Michael Jackson
U2’s “Spider-Man” Musical to Star Evan Rachel Wood, Alan Cumming - 6/26/09, 3:37 pm EST
Evan Rachel Wood appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon yesterday and chatted about her upcoming role as Mary Jane Watson in Bono and the Edge’s Spider-Man musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. “It’s unlike any Spider-Man you’ve ever seen,” she said. “Bono and the Edge are doing the music. It was hysterical, I got to do the workshop, sit down with them playing guitars going over the music, and I was making jokes going, watch by the end of this, I’ll be telling them what to do. And by the end I was! I was like, Bono, I know you want to save the world and everything, but in this song you’re talking about poverty and world hunger and it’s Broadway, can we lighten this up a bit, can I just not sing this? And he was like, [in Irish accent] ‘You’re right, I know, we have to try, we have to try.’ ” Today a press release confirmed Alan Cumming has also joined the production as Norman Osborn, better known as the Green Goblin. Both Wood and Cumming have previously worked with director Julie Taymor, who is known worldwide for her adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. Wood appeared in Beatles-inspired film Across the Universe, and Taymor directed two of Cumming’s film projects. ... source: rollingstone - numbview
Best Sellers-Audio - The Associated Press The Associated Press – Fri Jun 26, 12:00 am ET ... Hot Dance Club Play (Compiled from a national sample of dance club playlists.) ... 5. "Magnificent," U2. Island/Interscope. ... source: yahoo
Public money driving slow New Orleans downtown - A deal approved this week to fill up an empty skyscraper and keep the city's pro football team raises the bill of taxpayer funded redevelopment projects in downtown New Orleans to $300 million. And those projects are almost the sole source of rebuilding in the city that was devastated four years ago by Hurricane Katrina. Most of the big private investment plans have stalled since the nation sank into a recession. Among the casualties: Donald Trump's proposed $400 million hotel and condominium high-rise and another developer's $60 million condominium project in the riverfront Warehouse District. ... yahoo
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY - last Elvis performance / "War" album is gold / bye to Ellen Durst / Bono meets the press / U2 to donate millions to Africa / Exclusive interview of U2 to Fantastico /Edge's interview to Hot Press !
"Elvis Presley" - june 26, 1977. Elvis Presley performs his last concert in Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana.
"War" album is gold - june 26, 1983. U2's "War" sells 500,000 copies, and goes Gold in the US.
"ZOOTV-Zooropa" tour - june 26, 1993. U2 perform in Paris, France at the Hippodrome De Vincennes. During a show in Paris, Bono dedicates "Satellite of Love" to Ellen Darst, a longtime member of U2's management team who has decided to quit working for the band.
Bono meets the press - june 26, 2005. Bono is interviewed by Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press" news program. They discuss issues related to 3rd world poverty and the upcoming Live 8 concerts. The interview is done by satellite with Bono sitting in a studio in Dublin, though it's unclear if the interview is live or on tape.
U2 to donate millions to Africa - june 26, 2005 - It's noticed that Irish rockers U2 will donate $6 million (GBP3.3 million, about one million euro [$1,200,000/GBP665,000] each) of their own money towards eliminating poverty in Africa. BONO, ADAM CLAYTON, THE EDGE and LARRY MULLAN, who will be performing at the London leg of next Saturday's (02JUL05) LIVE 8 in Hyde Park, will each make a donation from profits of their current VERTIGO tour. Source: contactmusic.
Exclusive interview of U2 to Fantastico - june 26, 2005: U2 will play in Brazil / maybe play in the middle of the ocean to TV / the video of "Vertigo" from Chicago - Exclusive: the four musicians of the U2 speak to the Fantastico! Very relaxed, in Chicago, in the backstage of the new tour, Bono and his friends remember the visits for Brazil and guarantee that they will be back. Backstage of a presentation of U2 in Chicago for 20.000 people. It´s almost the moment the band up on stage. But, before this, they have a mission: to speak with the Fantastico. The musicians arrive separately. First the drummer Larry Mullen and the bassist Adam Clayton. After that, The Edge, the man of the guitar, he appears alone. And, finally, after the biggest suspense, he arrives, the singer Bono, much relaxed. And it won´t be long until to the start of the show (less than 30 minutes). In common, the members of U2 has good memories of Brazil: the show of January 1998 and the special to Fantastico, in November 2000. Adam has the good impression with the people singing together in the stadiums. "And the English nor is the first language of you," he says. In the same way, The Edge remembers: "In 2000, we amuse a lot in Rio. We were to the beach, we recorded a video. It was excellent ". Bono, also, has, only good memeories: "We adore that show for the Fantastico. It made much time that we didn´t prepare nothing similar. And it was a sweet sensation, cause, in the early times U2 made shows exactly as this one: in TV programs ". Since, Bono give the key, we asked: the actual tour, "Vertigo", has possibility to come to Brazil? "If it won´t be, I will be very upset. We are trying 'to set'. It´s funny, cause, in my memory, some of the best shows of our lives had been in the South America. And Brazil is, really, very special ", declares the singer. U2 again in Brazil. Who knows this history exactly is a super-powerful figure, not much known: Paul McGuinness, the manager of U2 since the start, a rare case in the Rock. It´s with authority of who takes care of the band during 27 years which he affirms: "I have that give a way to take this show for Brazil. I want a lot to set a special event, in a different place, to air in the TV. There it would be interesting ", the manager dreams. Paul McGuinness asks if, in Brazil, somebody already had constructed a stage in the sea, inside water. To play in the middle of ocean would be one more bold-attitude of U2, that released the first record in 1979 and has the same members until today. Although as much time in the road, it seems they never get tired themselves: "This comes of our origin ' punk '. We are not as those cool bands of years 70, that believed the audience had much luck for being in a show. We believe that we have the luck of the audience want to see us", Bono confesses. Anther question to the vocalist. When on stage, it is amusement or work? "When everything functions it is an incredible sensation. It is as if I disappeared inside the songs. But when it doesn´t give certain, we are the worse band of the world. You didn´t want that we played nor in your marriage ". Modesty, of course. At 45 years-old, Bono is much more of that a singer. He´s an activist, a defender of humanitarian causes. He´s also one of the most known faces of the planet. In the name of the rock and of the good causes, he does anything. Not one: to pass hours in a record studio. "I am very impatient. It doesn´t give. The guys, until, are happy when I disappear of the studio ", Bono says. The four already had many fights. But now, "40´", they seem serene and focused in the music. But still ambitious. "We dont´t make question of being the biggest band of the world. We want be the best", explains the drummer Larry Mullen. To the bassist Adam Clayton, it´s necessary to keep the way to search new features, different things. Already the guitarist The Edge affirms that U2 still is in the height. "Bono is singing as never, we are playing as never and the musics continue very good ". It arrives the hour of the show and we say goodbye. However, the vocalist Bono, that one who is "singing as never", has more a message for the people who attends the Fantastico: "We loved play in Brazil. It was very good. And we´ll play again!", he promises. -read the whole interview (Brazilian Portuguese language) on: Fantastico - Globo
Edge's interview to HotPress - Close to The Edge (Hot Press 26 Jun 2007) ... Are these songwriting sessions for a U2 album or an extra-curricular endeavour? It’s a U2 project, and one of the luxuries we’ve afforded ourselves is not to have to think about exactly what it will be or how it’ll be finished or when it’ll be released. Right now, we’re so enjoying the idea of making music for the sake of making music that we want to keep that going as long as is financially possible. And of course, at some point we’ll have to sit down and say, “Well, what have we got; is this one record, two records? Or is it a 12 inch single?” (Laughs). Then take it from there. by biff on Interference * the original at Hot Press to the subscribers
Five days until opening night so join us for a little excursion... onto the new stage. U2.com
Rehearsal: Breathe / No line on the horizon / Get on your boots / Magnificent / Beautiful day / I still haven´t found what I´m looking for / Drowning man / Stuck in a moment you can´t get out of (acoustic) / In a little while / Unknown caller ( Barcelona I know your name) / The unforgettable fire / City of blinding ligths / Vertigo / Mysterious ways / I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight (remix) / Sunday bloody sunday + Get up stand up / Pride (in the name of love) / MLK / Walk on + You´ll never walk alone / video Desmond Tutu / Where the streets have no name / One / Últraviolet / With or without you / Moment of surrender / Ava Maria.
Sunday, 7th June 2009. London-Barcelona. Two-and-a-half years into this project, finally the day dawns when I get to see the creation in the flesh. Heading to Barcelona, flying from City Airport, which is always a joy. Aside from being half the travel time to Heathrow, it's also tiny so you just coast through the place. It's perhaps on a par with flying from Dublin in the 70's, though it hasn't entirely escaped the MBA marketing consultants, as evidenced by a section in the airside café menu called, I kid you not, 'Tapatisers'. ... Previous Willie Diary Entry here. source: U2.com - numbview
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight: (will be realised on August 17th)
New Orleans' Homeless Struggle In Summer Heat - New Orleans Mission Hopes To Build Extension With Park - When the temperatures rise, everyone for ways to beat the heat -- and that usually involves escaping to some air conditioning. But for homeless people, it means being on the move. ... full article: wdsu
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY:...cold / "Nude Interview" / a civil war / "Daydream Believer" / 37th 'VERTIGO' show (CROKE PARK II): "Out Of Control"-female fan during "All I Want Is You"-male fan during "Party Girl"-Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is in attendance-'Worst weddingband, best rock band'-Edge and his guitar on "Party Girl"-Bono in St. Tropez / Bono's bedtime story from Amanda!
"War" tour - june 25, 1983. U2 perform in Atlanta, Georgia at the Civic Center. Bono's voice is strained and he cannot hit the high notes because of a cold. Support is "The Alarm".
"Nude Interview" - june 25, 1987. U2 perform and are interviewed on Irish Radio on the Dave Fanning Show. Reacting to the line in the Iggy Pop song, "Lust for Life", the members of U2 strip and do the remainder of the hilarious interview nude. Read the transcription of this interview on: U2 Interviews.
"Croatia and Slovenia" - june 25, 1993. Croatia and Slovenia declare independence from Yugoslavia, laying the foundation for a fierce civil war in the region.
"POPMart" tour - june 25, 1997. U2 perform in Madison, Wisconsin. Edge´s karaoke this night is "Daydream Believer"
37th 'VERTIGO' show - june 25, 2005 - Dublin, Ireland - Croke Park - Paddy Casey, The Thrills - "Out Of Control" / female fan during "All I Want Is You" / male fan during "Party Girl" / Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is in attendance / 'Worst weddingband, best rock band' / Edge and his guitar on "Party Girl" - An early-in-the-set version of Out of Control -- the song this city chose as U2's first single 26 years ago -- gets the crowd pumped up. It's the first time the song has been played on the European tour, and only the second time all year. Bono dances with a female fan during All I Want Is You, and brings a male fan on stage to play guitar during Party Girl. Bono tells the crowd that the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is in attendance.At soundcheck, U2 rehearsed "Until the End of the World" and "Bad. Edge so happy. Edge. The stage. Adam and the crowd. Bono and the red lights. Party Girl on the screen. Bono is going on about stealing The Edge from Wales and delivering him to a GAA stadium when we realise they are playing Out of Control....says Bono: 'Watch those boys on the second date, girls...'...For Party Girl, it 'pays to advertise'. Canadian fan Matt carrying a 'I can play guitar' sign is spotted by Bono early on in the show and he gets his 15 minutes (almost literally - Dallas can't find a guitar for him that works and The Edge is very reluctant to give up his own) playing Party Girl with the band and this time Bono gets the words right. 'Worst wedding band, best rock band,' he boasts. The 80,000 fans agree....Paul McGuinness announced on RTE's news bulletin that the band are considering taking this outdoor show to the States next year....Bono was seen signing autographs for screaming fans outside the Clarence Hotel where the band, no doubt, celebrated their second succesful conquest. On the streets of Temple Bar, the fans were left to wonder: what more can Monday night's show bring? Edge to Mattt..." What song are we playing? Some photos on U2gigs - Videos: U2gigs
Bono's bedtime story from Amanda
- June 26 2008 - U2 frontman Bono added some A-list sizzle to Amanda Brunker's book launch in Renards last night. He proved that he still hasn't forgotten his northside roots after forsaking a rehearsal session with his world-famous bandmates to attend the launch of Champagne Kisses. Given that he attended the same school as Amanda, in the shape of Mount Temple Comprehensive in Clontarf, he seemed to have no problem helping the mum of two publicise her first foray into the literary world. INCREDIBLE: The pint-sized star said it was great to be out on the tiles, meeting up with his old pals. "I am reading the book at the moment and it looks like it's going to be incredible," Bono said. Given his hectic schedule, it was little wonder he only stayed a few minutes to press the flesh before heading back to his recording studio to continue working on the band's new album. Amanda, who had changed the date of the launch to accommodate the rock star, brought Bono upstairs to give him a personal reading from her new tome. Looking relieved that he managed to pop in at all, she laughed: "Bono joked how I was reading him a bedtime story." Also at Renards were TV3 beauty Laura Ryan and her good pal Colette Fitzpatrick. The two presenters were out on the tiles to celebrate Colette's birthday. First stop for the pair was the Marks & Spencer party on Grafton Street for the opening night of the store's new roof-top restaurant, before hitting Renards. Other attendees at the glitzy book launch included pop impresario and X Factor judge Louis Walsh, TV presenter Blathnaid ni Chofaigh, panto queen Twink, actor Liam Cunningham, Gavin Lambe-Murphy, PJ Gibbons and Jason O'Callaghan. - Melanie Finn SHOWBUISNESS EDITOR - source: herald - Photos: interference
Getting ready for lift off: under a Catalan night sky, the new show is all set to take off. (So what does it remind you of? Post your comments... way down the page) U2.com
Bono and Gavin Friday - June 21, 2009 (last Sunday)
AmEx Pre-Sale Begins June 24 for Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark - By Andrew Gans - 24 Jun 2009 - Beginning June 24 American Express cardholders will be able to purchase tickets to the new musical Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark. Interested theatregoers, who possess an AmEx card, can call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. (A previous ticket initiative allowed fans of Marvel Comics and the band U2, among others, to purchase tickets to the new musical via special websites and codes.) Tickets will go on sale to the general public Sept. 12. Directed by The Lion King's Julie Taymor, Spider-Man will begin previews at Broadway's Hilton Theatre Jan. 16, 2010, with an official opening scheduled for Feb. 18, 2010. Casting will be announced shortly. Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark features music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge and a book by Taymor and Glen Berger. Drawing from over 40 years of Marvel comic books, Spider-Man, according to press notes, "spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen. The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down — literally — when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek — suddenly endowed with astonishing powers — soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character. Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected — yielding new characters as well as familiar faces — until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey." Spider-Man creators Julie Taymor, Bono and The Edge - The creative team also includes choreographer Daniel Ezralow ("Across the Universe," The Green Bird), set designer George Tsypin (The Magic Flute, The Little Mermaid), costume designer Eiko Ishioka (Academy Award for "Bram Stoker's Dracula," Tony nomination for M. Butterfly), lighting designer Donald Holder (Tony Awards for The Lion King, South Pacific), sound designer Jonathan Deans (Fosse Young Frankenstein, Ragtime) and musical supervisor Teese Gohl ("Across the Universe," "Frida"). The musical will be produced on Broadway by Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel Entertainment/David Maisel, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Jeremiah Harris. It will be produced in association with Omneity Entertainment/Richard Weinberg, the Mayerson/Gould/Hauser/Tysoe Group, Patricia Lambrecht and Jam Theatricals/S2BN Entertainment. Group tickets are also now on sale by calling (800) Broadway. The Hilton Theatre is located in Manhattan at 213 West 42nd Street. For more information visit www.SpidermanOnBroadway.com. source: playbill
Irish celebs line up behind "Yes" campaign for Lisbon treaty - By PADDY CLANCY, Irish Voice Reporter - Published Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:40 AM - Ireland soccer captain Robbie Keane and U2’s The Edge are among high-profile celebrity names who will be campaigning for a yes vote in the new Lisbon Treaty referendum set for this October in Ireland. Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney and author Deirdre Purcell are also involved in the new campaign group, Ireland for Europe, which insists it will not allow politicians to mess up the yes campaign. In the first referendum last year Ireland rejected the treaty -- designed to streamline government of the EU -- and that meant it had to be put on hold since ratification requires the approval of all member states of the EU. ... source: irishcentral - numbview
Led Zep’s Jimmy Page, Jack White and U2’s The Edge Try to Make Film History - Guitar heroes Page, White and The Edge take filmmakers inside their homes, behind the caution tape By Darrah Le Montre - Jack and Jimmy - HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) — “What turns us on is pretty similar,” rock legend Jimmy Page told Hollywood Today at his party for “It Might Get Loud.” He went on, “the initial spark and why we played and what turned us on…what made us want to be part of music…though we all come from slightly different musical genres was the same enticement.” Jimmy Page wrote a new song for the film, White makes a guitar out of a vacuum cleaner retractor chord, U2’s The Edge confesses his dire need to create music as a youth in Dublin. Three guitar gods. ... source: hollywoodtoday - numbview
U2: Access all areas
Preparing to kick off a revolutionary world tour in Barcelona, Larry, Bono, the Edge and Adam have already travelled a long road to get here. In astonishingly frank interviews with Brendan O'Connor, the band reveal the role of God in fighting their demons and agree that music has bound them together - By Brendan O'Connor - Sunday June 21 2009 ... numbview
Bono's 'independent' wife - June 22, 2009 - Bono wishes his wife wasn't so "independent". The U2 frontman fears his wife of nearly 27 years Ali Hewson doesn't need him as much as he needs her. ... independent - numbview
Stop being nasty to the rich, says U2's drummer - Rock star Mullen bashes the begrudgers and heaps praise on wealthy for their charity efforts - By BRENDAN O'CONNOR Exclusive - Sunday June 21 2009 - U2 drummer Larry Mullen believes rich and successful people are being unnecessarily humiliated when coming in and out of Ireland, describing this as "part of a new resentment of rich people in this country". ... numbview
Bono: the shades come off - Egomaniac. Relentless do-gooder. Family man. We spend six months getting close to the world’s most influential rock star - From The Sunday Times June 21, 2009 - Bono can hold the undivided attention of a sold-out stadium. When he works a much smaller space, say in the White House, Downing Street or the Vatican, he rules that room with those who rule the world. When he put his sunglasses on the Pope, that picture became iconic because of his glasses, not because of the pontiff. How? Why? His father told him never to have dreams because he didn’t want him to be disappointed, which encouraged him to dream even bigger. But that’s only part of the long answer. ... source: timesonline - numbview
PwC sends 150 people to New Orleans to assist in ongoing recovery efforts - The initiative is being coordinated locally with HandsOn New Orleans and will provide assistance at four locations in the city, each relating to one of the four core pillars of PwC's Corporate Responsibility commitment: Marketplace, People, Communities and Environment. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) has launched Project "Make [responsibility] Count," a two-day community outreach initiative in New Orleans involving 150 partners, staff and college students from across the country to assist in the city's ongoing recovery efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The project supports PwC's larger commitment to responsible leadership in the community by promoting a culture of volunteerism, youth education and leadership development. ... source: consultant-news
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: "The Tube" in 83 / Sick of all flags / this isn´t the name of new album (Solar) / 36th 'VERTIGO' show-CROKE PARK I: a triumphant homecoming-rain-Mexican wave-before playing a note the band walked to the front of the stage to accept the adulation of fans-Bono joined The Edge for Electrical Co.-'Rain' and Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak'-Crumlin Childrens Hospital!
"War" tour - june 24, 1983. U2 perform in Jacksonville, California. Support is "The Alarm". British TV music show "The Tube" airs "I Will Follow" which was taped in front of a studio audience on March 16,1983.
"The Joshua Tree" tour - june 24, 1987. U2 perform in Belfast, Northern Ireland at King's Hall. Once U2 take the stage, ten or twenty Irish Tri-Colors appear in the audience. Bono immediately reacts, "You can take down the flags, we don't need any flags...we're SICK of ALL FLAGS!" Support is Lou Reed.
Album rumors quashed-Solar - june 24, 2003. A HotPress.com article kills recent rumors that the next U2 album will be called "Solar" and that it'll be released on March 8, 2003. Says Four5One's Steve Averill: "We haven't done any work on the cover yet and 'Solar' isn't on the possible list of titles we've been given."
36th 'VERTIGO' show - june 24, 2005 - Dublin, Ireland - Croke Park - Snow Patrol / Radiators - a triumphant homecoming / rain-Mexican wave / before playing a note the band walked to the front of the stage to accept the adulation of fans / Bono joined The Edge for Electrical Co. / 'Rain' and Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak' / Crumlin Childrens Hospital! U2 returns to Croke Park almost 20 years to the date of their first gig in the historic Dublin stadium. Rain falls for much of the day and night, and twice Bono sings a bit of the Beatles' 'Rain.' A bit of Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak' is added at the end of Vertigo 2. 'It doesn't get any better than this...': 'The funky side of town, the north side of Dublin,' exclaimed Bono as the biggest audience on the tour to date, all 82,000 of them, started jumping and jiving - barely stopping for breath all night....'I think that was the third time we have played that ever...' said Bono, as a soaring rendition of Wild Horses came to a close. 'Hope it was to your liking.' At which point Bruce Ramus, Lighting Director, swung a spotlight on a huge banner hanging over a balcony on one of the main stands. Bono read out the greeting:'Welcome home boys... We will see you in Rome next week!' Cue a momentary meditation on the poet Keats....and Bono took the moment to thank Adam, Larry and Edge as well as management and crew for 'giving us such a great life'. Introducing Miracle Drug, he recalled the last time the band had played in this stadium, not twenty years ago but three years ago, a short but special performance at the Special Olympics. It was a sign, he said, of the way that Ireland is about the future, revealing that there were some special guests here tonight from Crumlin Childrens Hospital. 'We want to welcome them,' he added to great cheers, 'This song is for the doctors and nurses, especially the nurses!'...of Running to Stand Still to Aung San Suu Kyi- who was given the Freedom of Dublin on the same day as U2. Last weekend she spent her sixtieth birthday, the elected leader of her people, under house arrest. And for a third night Bono ended the song singing 'Happy Birthday' to the Burmese leader, segueing into a clip of Walk On, the track from the band's last album which was dedicated to her....As the applause rose to greet the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the opening chords of Pride In The Name of Love created total pandemonium - a sea of raised hands and soaring voices. ' A dream when everyone is free and equal under the eyes of God.'...a song originally inspired by Africa which has found new meaning in Africa in 2005. 'This is our moment, from the charity of the old Live Aid to the justice of the new Live8,from drop the debt to trade justice to make poverty history-the journey of equality GOES ON!'...'What a beautiful night, beautiful night,' as the singer put it. 'It doesn't get any better than this, this band, this home town and this stadium!'...'Oh, yes, you look so beautiful tonight...' Edge, Adam and the stage. Edge walking to the mini-stage. Croker-lights. One song 'Miracle Drug' was dedicated to the staff of Crumlin's Children's Hospital. The crowd approved. Bono wasn't bullshitting. "The last time we were in this beautiful stadium was at the Special Olympics, and that was an extraordinary evening," declared Bono. "Ireland was not about the past, it was about the future and it was excited about the future."...And the noise, the bass notes, reverberated up through the soles of our feet. People will have seen the band live at 110 shows paying a total of £220 million. Heroe´s welcome as the boys are back in town. Bono. The crowd. U2 thrill 80,000 at Dublin venue. A haon, a do, a tri, a ceather deag. 'What's Irish for 14, Larry?': Bono is serious. For their second performance of 'Vertigo' of the night, he walks over to the drum kit to ask Larry Mullen how to say 14 'as Gaeilge'. Misunderstanding, Larry shouts: 'A h-aon'! ('one') Bono asks again and this time the drummer gets it right: 'ceithir deug'. Three times he tells Bono how to say it. 'A h-aon, a dhà, a trì, a ceithirmmmmmfrgh!'...'Oh, you look so beautiful tonight,' Bono told the Croke Park audience. Absolutely gorgeous, yes. Some photos on: U2gigs. Read more: here and here
The lights are down, the band are on stage ... the only thing missing is you. U2.com
Rehearsal: If God will send his angels / Drowning man / Sometimes you can´t make it on your own / Sometimes you can´t make it on your own / Bad / Walk on / Desmond Tutu / Ultraviolet / Where the streets have no name / Seconds (maybe bass line) / I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight (remix) / Pride (in the name of love) / ... / Breathe / No line on the horizon / Get on your boots.
'Live is where we discover what our songs are about.' - 23 June 2009 - First look at the 360 Tour stage as Bono and Adam talk with Catalan journalist Manuel Fuentes for local network TV3:'Live is where we discover what our songs are about. Live is where we discover what we are about...'
The Nou Camp, in Barcelona, gets the U2 treatment in preparation for the launch of the band's 360 world tour - More photos here - Tuesday, 23 June 2009 - Preparations are well underway for U2's first concert as part of the 360o World Tour, which kicks off in Barcelona on June 30. Northern Ireland band Snow Patrol will be backing them up. Here's a sneak preview of what's in store for lucky ticket holders when the band comes to Croke Park...... source: belfasttelegraph
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: Adam joins Maria McKee / Pamela Anderson and a letter signed by "Edge & Morleigh" / Lillywhite in Dublin!
"War" tour - june 23, 1983. U2 perform in Miami, Florida. Support is "The Alarm".
"Adam joins Maria McKee" - june 23, 1989. Adam joins Maria McKee in Dublin, Ireland at Mother Redcap's. Adam plays bass on a few songs.
"ZOOTV-Zooropa" tour - june 23, 1993. U2 perform in Strasbourg, France at Stade De La Meinau.
Pamela Anderson and a letter signed by "Edge & Morleigh" ...Pamela Anderson hit Dublin with a bang this week highlighting AIDS & animal cruelty issues and still finding time to look after her two kids. She stayed at U2's Edge and Bono plush Clarence Hotel! When she left U2's Clarence Hotel it's noticed she was reading a letter signed by Edge & Morleigh and it seemed to inviting Pam's boys over to The Edge's house for a play date with his children. Source: showbizireland
Lillywhite in Dublin - June 23, 2008 - Lillywhite is in Dublin recording with U2, with whom he’s collaborated for three decades
'From A Giant Space Aquarium' - 22 June 2009 - What has 4 Legs, in the Round ? The question is posed in the New York Times and the answer is U2's 360 production which opens in Barcelona next Tuesday night. 'Everyone who sees it says that it looks like something different,' said Willie Williams, who has worked with U2 since 1982 and co-designed the set with the architect Mark Fisher, a veteran of Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones tours. 'Tintin's rocket. The War of the Worlds. Cactus. Octopus. Claw. Whenever it started to look like something, Mark and I would push it in another direction. But it does look as though it has escaped from a giant space aquarium.' 'Our work is all to do with the logistics of building a very large piece of technical infrastructure in a very short time, and to make something interesting out of it,' said Mr. Fisher. 'Why do people go to shows like this in the digital age? It's for the huge collective experience, the social and spatial and memories. This set will contribute by creating a massive sense of anticipation and delivering an amazing kinetic performance.' Read the whole story here - source: U2.com
HUD secretary Shaun Donovan in New Orleans today to help rebuild Gentilly home, promote summer volunteer program - NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will be in New Orleans today to help volunteers rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and to promote a federal summer volunteerism program. ... full article: nola
THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: Longest Day Festival - England-Los Angeles / Guggi´s exhibition-red shirt #7-Lanois joins U2 / Edge marries Morleigh, at the Garden of Eze, South France!!!!!(Congratulations!)
"War" tour - june 22, 1983. U2 perform in Tampa, Florida at the Curtis Hixon Center. Support is "The Alarm".
"The Unforgettable Fire" tour - june 22, 1985. U2 perform in Milton Keynes, England at the Milton Keynes Bowl as part of the "Longest Day" festival. Other performers include Billy Bragg, "The Ramones", and "REM". U2 headline the festival, and 50,000 fans sell out the festival. It's rained most of the day, and the skies are cloudy when U2 take the stage. Bono attempts to introduce "Bad", but the synthesizer cuts out. Bono is left on stage with nothing to say and retorts, "This is very Bad". Roadies attempt to solve the problem while Bono jokes with the crowd, "It's really great to be back in Los Angeles. Well, now you know why we don't break down so much--because I don't tell very good jokes. Actually, there was this sandwich that went into a bar..." The crowd groands, and Bono turns around to look at the band who are gesturing him to not tell the joke. Bono continues, "Right, so this sandwich goes into a bar, and eases his way past a few pork pies and steps up to the waiter and says, 'Waiter, can I have a pint of Guiness?' He says, 'No, I'm sorry, we don't serve sandwiches.'" Bono invites someone from the crowd to tell a better joke. A man gets on stage and gives Bono a big hug, "All right sunshine, seeing as you're the height you are," Bono jokes referring to the man's gigantic size, "you can do the rest of this on your knees, OK?" The man kneels and threatens not to tell his joke. Bono says that the crowd are waiting for him, and the man finally tells his joke, "OK...I'll tell a joke," he starts, "What's the biggest joke in Great Britain?". He pauses for a second, and then lets the punchline go, "Wham!". Bono thanks the man and escorts him to the edge of the stage. The band fill the time by playing The Beatles' "Rain", and Dylan's "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall". Again, Bono introduces "Bad", and this time the synthesizer completely cuts out. "Anyone knows any more jokes?" Bono asks. At the end of the show, Bono says to the crowd, "We're going to go away now and write some songs for our next LP. It means a lot to this group that we can be away for the last six months and that so many people still want to come and see us." Bono individually thanks the groups performing that day, as well as Adam, Larry and The Edge for letting him be in their band, and then performs "40".
"Elevation" tour - june 22, 2001 - East Rutherford, NJ, USA - Continental Airlines Arena - PJ Harvey. U2 wraps up the first leg of the Elevation Tour with a show in E. Rutherford, New Jersey. Prior to the show, Bono attends the opening of an art exhibit in New York featuring the works of his longtime friend, Guggi. Wild Honey's live debut is an acoustic version - Bono and Edge at the heart, Daniel Lanois on guitar at the main stage. Lanois also plays there during Ground Beneath Her Feet. Celeb's there: M. Stipe, K. Annan, B. Clinton, Beastie Boys, Gavin F., Guggi. Edge wears red shirt #7, this night.
"Edge marries Morleigh (again)" - june 22, 2002. The Edge "marries" longtime girlfriend Morleigh Steinberg in a Jewish ceremony at the Garden of Eze in the south of France. Edge wears his trademark hat with a white/cream-colored jacket over a dark shirt. Morleigh, of course, wears white. The ceremony takes place at the ruins of a medieval castle near the village where Bono and Edge also share a home. Bono is Edge's best man. It's actually the couple's second ceremony of the week -- they first tied the knot in a private ceremony four days earlier (June 18) at a Dublin registry office. From an article in Ireland on Sunday newspaper: Invited guests included Bob Geldof, Mick Jagger, movie director Neil Jordan and the Gallagher brothers. But many of the famous invitees were unable to attend and the wedding was principally a family affair with band members, their families and close friends such as supermodel Christy Turlington looking on. Befitting the ceremony's unique theme, the Edge chose a woman to be his best man. His close friend, Chantal O'Sullivan, a successful art dealer, had the honour of holding the rings while the couple exchanged vows.
HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY!
Edge finally found what he was looking for when he said "I do" to his Morleigh. Eze-sur-Mer was a paradise to see, you Edge and Morleigh, both of you in the same "the dreams come true!" What I can say is that I wish for you Edge and beauty Morleigh, an extraordinary life, with health, peace, love, success, hope, harmony extended to your son, daughters, all your family and friends. I wish, also, your dreams come true, as dad and mum! God Bless Edge and Morleigh and family!
UPDATE - JUNE 21 - THIS DAY - U2'S HISTORY: McGonagle´s / "I Fall Down" is interrupted / returning to Dublin to record b-sides / Davy Jones joins Edge on stage / "Stay" to Moulin Rouge´s director / Special Olympics Games in Dublin / 35th 'VERTIGO' show: "...Stand Still" to Aung San Suu Kiy-The Edge's guitar solos as Bono's antics-"Promised You A Miracle" at the end of "Beautiful Day" to homage Simple Minds-Bono kisses a lucky female fan-Edge doesn´t hold anything back-Edge going mental / Bono pays tribute to Hume!
"Early Ireland" - june 21, 1979. U2 perform in Dublin, Ireland at McGonagle's.
"War" tour - june 21, 1983. U2 perform in Orlando, Florida at the Jai Alai Fronton Hall. "I Fall Down" is interrupted because of pushing at the front of the stage. Bono turns to the flags at the back of the stage and shouts, "You see the white flags that we have at the back of the stage? That means nobody gets hurt when we play!" Support is "The Alarm".
"The Joshua Tree" tour - june 21, 1987. U2 perform in Basel, Switzerland at St. Jakob's Station. Only 40,000 of the 50,000 tickets sell--it is the only European date not to sell out. Support is "The Pretenders", and Lou Reed. As they did after the June 17,1987 show in Cologne, Germany, U2 immediately return to Dublin, Ireland to record B-side tracks for yet-to-be-released singles.
"POPMart" tour - june 21, 1997 - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Coliseum - After another solid, acoustic version of "Staring At The Sun," Bono took off for backstage and Edge started us into the karaoke version of "Daydream Believer." A guy in blue and white walk inside the rail -- he looked familiar. As soon as Edge finished the first chorus, he stops and says "Oh no, I've been caught" or something like that. Up on the B-stage walks Monkee Davy Jones, grinning from ear-to-ear, mic in hand and ready to sing!!!!! Absolutely hysterical -- we were all laughing our asses off as Edge got down on his knees and bowed before Davy Jones in the "I'm not worthy" pose! Davy took us the rest of the way through a looong version of "Daydream Believer," with Edge chiming in for the chorus. This will no doubt be one of the all-time POP Mart tour highlights! Just awesome!
"Elevation" tour - june 21, 2001 / E. Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena - PJ Harvey. Comments: Bono dedicates 'Stay' to Baz Luhrmann, director of the movie 'Moulin Rouge', who is in the arena tonight. Edge wears burgundy shirt #7, this night.
"Special Olympics World Summer Games" - june 21, 2003. U2 performs "One" and "Pride" today at the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Summer Games at Croke Park in Dublin. "One" includes backing from a full orchestra. During "Pride", Bono changes lyrics to reference the day's events and the presence of former South African president Nelson Mandela. Toward the end of the song, Bono goes backstage and returns with Mandela, calling him "the president of everyone, everywhere who loves and fights for freedom."
35th 'VERTIGO' show - june 21, 2005 - Glasgow, Scotland - Hampden Park - Interpol, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. - "...Stand Still" to Aung San Suu Kiy / The Edge's guitar solos as Bono's antics / "Promised You A Miracle" at the end of "Beautiful Day" to homage Simple Minds / Bono kisses a lucky female fan / Edge doesn´t hold anything back / Edge going mental! Just as he did two days ago in London, Bono dedicates Running to Stand Still to Aung San Suu Kyi and adds a bit of Walk On at the end. Scotish fans cheered at The Edge's guitar solos, and not just Bono's antics. BONO is clearly enjoying himself as he keeps the 50,000-strong crowd in the party spirit! Guitarist The Edge doesn't hold anything back as he strikes out to deliver another of his virtuoso displays ! A lucky female fan gets a kiss from Bono! Two young fans were up for a Hampden party! Edge going mental during Electric Co - probably one of the highlights. 'Hope that went okay for the people of Glasgow...' remarked Bono...'Three notes, four notes... I hear those four notes and I¹m excited about the future, excited about being in this band, excited about what we might do in the future. You need a bus load of faith in the future. Who said that ? Lou Reed. Faith in the idea that God can inspire doctors and nurses...This is Miracle Drug.'...'...Spent her birthday again behind bars. Beautiful woman, beautiful spirit. I dedicate this song to her.. 'Running to Stand Still'.' At the end of the song, Bono again sang Happy Birthday to Aung San Suu Kyi, and with perfect timing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights began scrolling up the screens behind.... Some photos: U2gigs
Bono pays tribute to Hume - June 21, 2009
Bono 'salutes' Hume / The John Hume mural - Irish rock legend Bono has saluted John Hume prior to the unveiling of his mural in the Bogside today. In a message to the Nobel Laureate, apologising for his non-attendance at the event, Bono praises Hume for his contribution to the peace process. It reads: "We have a simple rule in U2. If John Hume asks, just say yes. As Dr. King, using leadership, changed the United States, so, too, did this man for the people of Ireland. We salute you." The mural - located on Rossville Street opposite Pilot's Row Community Centre - will be unveiled this afternoon by retired Bishop of Derry, Dr. Edward Daly. The painting - the brainchild of the Bogside Artists - also includes images of high-profile peacemakers Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa. derryjounal
Good act U2! Great!....I'm trying to be more in than out, cause to be distant of U2 isn't good to my health...and what stage, what tour....what rehearsals....!!!!!!!!!
Countdown to 360 - 10 Days - 20 June 2009 - (video)
The signs are good in Barcelona... and they're all pointing to the stage. Check it out
Rehearsal: 8:30 Opening A - KINGDOM / Sunday B sunday (acoustic) / Magnificient / Boots / Beautiful day / Vertigo. 9.00 Opening B - Moment of surrender / Magnificient / Boots / Beautiful day / Vertigo. *** intro / Breath / No line on the horizon / Get on your boots / Magnificent / celtic + Beautiful day / I still haven´t found what I´m looking for + snippet / Drowning man / Bad / In a little while / Angel of Harlem / Unknown caller / The unforgettable fire / City of blinding ligths / Even better than the real thing [remix] / Pride (in the name of love) / Where the streets have no name ... ... Ultraviolet (light my way) / With or without you / Walk on ... ... Vertigo / I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight / Moment of surrender. Photos:U2eastlink
11 Days (video) Bono Is In The Building. (And on the stage, and at the microphone...)
U2 will play to 500 fans and VIPS (rumor)
Second El Periodico from Spain, U2 will play to 500 fans and VIPS, on June 29, 2009 in Barcelona.
64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi - 19 June 2009
Today is the 64th birthday of Burma's imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi and U2, Paul McCartney, George Clooney and a host of others have been posting their 64 word messages of support on a dedicated website. The Nobel Peace Laureate will spend her birthday in detention - her 14th birthday in detention. Add your own message of support. The message from U2 is adapted from their 2001 single Walk On, which is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi: 'Packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been/A place that has to be believed to be seen/You could have flown away/A singing bird in an open cage/Who will only fly, fly for freedom/Walk on, walk on/What you've got they can't deny it/Can't sell it, can't buy it/Walk on, walk on/Stay safe tonight.' George Clooney, David Beckham, Julia Roberts, Daniel Craig and Richard Branson have also posted 64 word messages - along with thousands of other supporters. Paul McCartney said that Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to her country and to the rest of the world. 'I truly admire her infallible resolve and her determination to stand up for what she believes in. It is vital that Aung San Suu Kyi is released so that she can govern the people who elected her and give Burma back the freedom we all take for granted.' The 64 word messages are being added to a dedicated campaign website. You can add your own here. here - source: U2.com - 64forsuu
12 Days - June 18, 2009
Drum Roll: Larry's kit arrives at Camp Nou.
Rehearsal: "Walk on" - "Drowning man" - "Beautiful day", "Vertigo", "Magnificent" , "Get in your boots", "I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight", "No line on the horizon", "Elevation", "One", "Moment of surrender"
13 Days - June 17, 2009
If you build it, they will come. Less than a fortnight to the tour and we're at Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Rehearsal: "The unforgettable fire", "City of blinding lights", "Magnificent", "Get on yout boots", "Elevation" y "Beautiful day", "I still haven´t found what I´m looking for", "Drowning man", Breathe" "In a little while", "Angel of Harlem + Suspicious minds", "Unknown caller", "The unforgettable fire", "City of blinding lights", "Pride (in the name of love)", "MLK", "Where the streets have no name", "Ultraviolet", "With or without you", "Vertigo", "I´ll go crazy if I don´t go crazy tonight", "No line on the horizon", "Moment of surrender".
Go Crazy - 17 June 2009 - U2's new single, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, will be released on August 17th by Mercury. This is the third single from No Line On The Horizon which debuted at No.1 in 28 countries when it was released in March. The talented Irish animation film-maker David O'Reilly has been commissioned to create a video for I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight. David O'Reilly won the 2009 Golden Bear at Berlinale for his animated short film Please Say Something. The band are currently gearing up for their much anticipated the 360 Tour which is set to start in Barcelona later this month. source: U2.com
Beautiful in Barcelona - 17 June 2009
It's a beautiful day at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The sun is shining, U2's 360 Tour production is coming to life... and the new stage is something to behold. 'Seeing it here is something else,' says Jake Berry, the band's Production Director. 'I think jaws are going to drop when people come through those doors on the opening night.' Jake's been working in rock'n'roll for longer than he cares to remember but says he's never seen anything as ambitious. 'Every show has a wow factor but this wow is going to last longer!' Tour architect Mark Fisher, who has been collaborating with Show Designer Willie Williams since the 1990's, says his main feeling when he finally saw it in the stadium was relief. Why ? 'Because it fits, we built it the right size!' 'I think it will take people's breath away when they arrive, a real statement that U2 are in town, but when the band come on stage it will disappear, it will all be about that communication between band and audience.' We'll be bringing you reports, photos and video from Barcelona in the run up to opening night on June 30th. Meantime we grabbed a quick word with Willie too, who told us that seeing it finally come off the page and into the stadium is 'pretty extraordinary.' I'm just glad we don't have to take it on tour...' source: U2.com
Allen Toussaint rediscovers New Orleans on new album - By Jeffrey Jones Jeffrey Jones – Fri Jun 19, 3:33 pm ET - CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) – R&B legend Allen Toussaint has done with his music what America has been forced to do since Hurricane Katrina laid waste to his hometown -- take a new look at what is in danger of fading away. ... full article: yahoo
U2's Official site
16/06/2009 a 30/06/2009
Finally, the date has arrived - the first night of the 360° Tour. We will keep you up to speed with what happens in Barcelona this evening. Earlier today, the band ran through a spot of soundchecking. They began with Vertigo, a song with which Edge seemingly had guitar issues at the dress rehearsal yesterday. It was followed by the Crazy Tonight remix twice, Walk On, One, Ultra Violet, Magnificent, and Breathe. The band are now on stage. The setlist is: 1. Breathe / 2. No Line On The Horizon / 3. Get On Your Boots / 4. Magnificent / 5. Beautiful Day / 6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / 7. Angel Of Harlem / Man In The Mirror (snippet) / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (snippet) / 8. In A Little While / 9. Unknown Caller / 10. The Unforgettable Fire / 11. City Of Blinding Lights / 12. Vertigo / 13. Crazy Tonight / 14. Sunday Bloody Sunday / Pride (In The Name Of Love) / MLK / Walk On - Encore(s): Where The Streets Have No Name / One / Ultra Violet (Light My Way) / With Or Without You / Moment of Surrender - Before Beautiful Day, Bono gave a short speech about Barcelona. Angel Of Harlem is dedicated to Michael Jackson. Before Unknown Caller, the "Space Chat" is revealed - a live link-up with the International Space Station. During this segment, one of the astronauts joined the One Campaign from space. Crazy Tonight is again the re-invented remix version; Larry even ventures out onto the catwalk with a drum during the song. During Walk On, people are on stage wearing those tacky Aung San Suu Kyi masks - but it seems the crowd are not in a hurry to join in on trivialising her plight. The main set ends with Walk On. The pre-recorded Desmond Tutu speech leads into Streets to open the encore. Streets features distinctive red lighting. Bono talks a fair bit between Streets and One and puts on an FC Barcelona shirt. The performance of One is marred by error and falls apart. The band take a second encore break after it and return with Ultra Violet. Moment Of Surrender closes the concert.
Spanish fans waiting for opening night in Barcelona were also at the band's last show - in Hawaii in 2006. But it's ok... they went home in between. And tonight they've got a cunning plan to celebrate the band's arrival on stage. 
... 
Wednesday, 10th June 2009. Barcelona. Production build. ... 
Bono and Edge were at the first of R.E.M.'s 5-Night Dublin. They were sitting in one of the fancy boxes with Gavin Friday, Guggi, and their wives. (Pretty sure it was Morleigh anyway. It was hard to see). Michael Stipe thanked Bono and Edge at the beginning. It was a cool gig. The venue is really small. They're calling them 'Working Rehearsals' so they did ten brand new songs. The older songs were all from the early 80's except for two gems from New Adventures in Hi-Fi (U2's Pop I reckon, i.e. incredible yet some somewhat unappreciated album). Peter Buck actually seemed to be enjoying performing which is very out of character for him! Stipe was singing most of the lyrics from a laptop. by DublinGuy, on 
This is what U2 played: Breathe / No Line on the Horizon / Get On Your Boots / Magnificent / Beautiful Day (snippet: Blackbird) / I Still Haven’t Found / Angel of Harlem (snippet: Man in the Mirror) / In a Little While / Unknown Caller / The Unforgettable Fire / City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Crazy Tonight / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Pride / MLK / Walk on (snippet: You’ll never walk alone) / Desmond Tutu speech - Where the Streets Have No Name / One / Ultraviolet / With or Without You / (live setlist reporting courtesy of U2gigs.com) 
In a little over forty eight hours the world gets to see the groundbreaking new 360 stage design and Adam and Edge are in last minute negotiations about... where to put the amps. Adam reaches for the tape measure.
There are scores of talented people heading out on the road with U2 in 2009. Carpenters, caterers, camera crews, riggers, runners, roadies... So what do they do in this travelling circus ? Where are they during the show ? And how did they get to work with U2? As the tour heads out from Barcelona across Europe, we figured it would be a good moment to start inviting the people in the crew to tell us what they do and how it works. Our story of 'Life on 360' starts high above the stage. 
There's only a couple of days to go now and last night the band arrived on stage late and went through the whole of the new show until... very late. Our lips are sealed on what tracks they played - if you want to find out, it's not difficult, but if you don't want to we're not about to spoil the surprise. But here's a few clues. Seems like the band are intent on really mixing things up on this tour. Following all those weeks of rehearsals in Dublin, they're sounding very tight musically and at Camp Nou they're focussed on the production - how to make themselves at home on a breathtaking new stage, how to be 360 for two and a half hours. They've rehearsed thirty-plus tracks and last night ran through more than two thirds - as well as a cracking selection from No Line, we counted songs from EIGHT different albums. Also noticed one or two familiar songs have been... reimagined. Going to be at one of the first shows in Barcelona ? How you getting prepared ? What are you expecting ? Seen the band before - got any advice for people seeing them for the first time ? Countdown two days.... 
Three days to the first show and Adam and Edge are putting in some final rehearsal time on the new stage. Anyone guess what they're playing ? (Answers at the bottom of the page.. way down.) 
By Caitrina Cody - Saturday June 27 2009 - THE sun is shining at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium -- and U2's futuristic new stage, above and right, is taking shape. The band kick off their '360' tour in the Spanish city on Tuesday and will take in 14 European cities over the summer. The spectacular stage will allow Bono and the boys to perform in the middle of the stadium, so that fans will surround the band on all sides. Four days before U2 play their first date, technicians were still putting the final touches to the canopied structure that hovers over the stage. Lights and lasers are expected to play an important role in the show, and rumours abound that the circular stage may revolve, giving every fan a bird's eye view of the proceedings. Costing more than €100m to stage and running for the next 18 months, the band has already sold some 2.5 million tickets for its dates throughout Europe and North America as they showcase their latest album, 'No Line on the Horizon'. Meanwhile, glimpses of the plans for the Croke Park concert dates show that the stage will be set up near the Canal End with no backstage area. U2 will play in Croke Park, Dublin, on July 24, 25 and 27, with around 80,000 fans expected to attend each night. - Caitrina Cody - 
It's hot, it's sunny, it's Barcelona and the Spanish press are at Camp Nou to meet the big hitters behind the 360 Tour production. Three days till Tuesday's opening night and the excitement is building. The band are rehearsing, the creative team are finalising the look and feel of the new show, the crew are working flat out... and the U2.com team are in the house. Check out this new clip we shot as the media descended on Camp Nou yesterday. So what do you think of the stage ? Click below to see (everything inside the site). 
'Load-in with an audience' - 27 June 2009 - Day two of the production build in Barcelona with Willie's latest tour diaries and the strange experience of 'doing a load-in with an audience'. ... 
In Spanish...the inspiration for this stage started 4 years agounder Hawaii's sky, having images painted by Gaudi - They will back to Spain in 2010 ... 
In 2009 U2 fans at every show will be reminding the world of the plight of Burma's democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi has been described as Asia's Nelson Mandela. Her party, the National League for Democracy, won elections in 1990 but the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Since that day most of her time has been spent under house arrest. U2 believe the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi and every night on the 360 Tour fans are being invited to wear the Mask when the band play Walk On, which was written for her. 
- By now, undoubtedly most of you will have heard that Michael Jackson has passed away after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 50. As soon as his death was confirmed, online setlist discussion immediately turned to speculation about whether U2 would pay tribute to Jackson at their forthcoming concerts through snippets or other commemoration. Bono has been known to tribute deceased famous musicians through song, such as 
...rest in peace King of the Pop. With an amazing talent, was in Brazil for 3 times: September 1974, with Jackson Five, played in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte; October 1993, with two shows at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo (from where this photo was taken) and in 1996 to record a clipe to his song 'They Don't Care About Us', at Favela Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro and at Pelourinho, in Salvador, as you can watch at 
Evan Rachel Wood appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon yesterday and chatted about her upcoming role as Mary Jane Watson in Bono and the Edge’s Spider-Man musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. “It’s unlike any Spider-Man you’ve ever seen,” she said. “Bono and the Edge are doing the music. It was hysterical, I got to do the workshop, sit down with them playing guitars going over the music, and I was making jokes going, watch by the end of this, I’ll be telling them what to do. And by the end I was! I was like, Bono, I know you want to save the world and everything, but in this song you’re talking about poverty and world hunger and it’s Broadway, can we lighten this up a bit, can I just not sing this? And he was like, [in Irish accent] ‘You’re right, I know, we have to try, we have to try.’ ” Today a press release confirmed Alan Cumming has also joined the production as Norman Osborn, better known as the Green Goblin. Both Wood and Cumming have previously worked with director Julie Taymor, who is known worldwide for her adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. Wood appeared in Beatles-inspired film Across the Universe, and Taymor directed two of Cumming’s film projects. ... 
Sunday, 7th June 2009. London-Barcelona. Two-and-a-half years into this project, finally the day dawns when I get to see the creation in the flesh. Heading to Barcelona, flying from City Airport, which is always a joy. Aside from being half the travel time to Heathrow, it's also tiny so you just coast through the place. It's perhaps on a par with flying from Dublin in the 70's, though it hasn't entirely escaped the MBA marketing consultants, as evidenced by a section in the airside café menu called, I kid you not, 'Tapatisers'. ... Previous Willie Diary Entry 
- June 26 2008 - U2 frontman Bono added some A-list sizzle to Amanda Brunker's book launch in Renards last night. He proved that he still hasn't forgotten his northside roots after forsaking a rehearsal session with his world-famous bandmates to attend the launch of Champagne Kisses. Given that he attended the same school as Amanda, in the shape of Mount Temple Comprehensive in Clontarf, he seemed to have no problem helping the mum of two publicise her first foray into the literary world. INCREDIBLE: The pint-sized star said it was great to be out on the tiles, meeting up with his old pals. "I am reading the book at the moment and it looks like it's going to be incredible," Bono said. Given his hectic schedule, it was little wonder he only stayed a few minutes to press the flesh before heading back to his recording studio to continue working on the band's new album. Amanda, who had changed the date of the launch to accommodate the rock star, brought Bono upstairs to give him a personal reading from her new tome. Looking relieved that he managed to pop in at all, she laughed: "Bono joked how I was reading him a bedtime story." Also at Renards were TV3 beauty Laura Ryan and her good pal Colette Fitzpatrick. The two presenters were out on the tiles to celebrate Colette's birthday. First stop for the pair was the Marks & Spencer party on Grafton Street for the opening night of the store's new roof-top restaurant, before hitting Renards. Other attendees at the glitzy book launch included pop impresario and X Factor judge Louis Walsh, TV presenter Blathnaid ni Chofaigh, panto queen Twink, actor Liam Cunningham, Gavin Lambe-Murphy, PJ Gibbons and Jason O'Callaghan. - Melanie Finn SHOWBUISNESS EDITOR - 
Getting ready for lift off: under a Catalan night sky, the new show is all set to take off. (So what does it remind you of? Post your comments... way down the page) 
Preparing to kick off a revolutionary world tour in Barcelona, Larry, Bono, the Edge and Adam have already travelled a long road to get here. In astonishingly frank interviews with Brendan O'Connor, the band reveal the role of God in fighting their demons and agree that music has bound them together - By Brendan O'Connor - Sunday June 21 2009 ... 
The lights are down, the band are on stage ... the only thing missing is you. 
The Nou Camp, in Barcelona, gets the U2 treatment in preparation for the launch of the band's 360 world tour - 
Onstage at Camp Nou, Larry, Edge and Bono. (Adam's behind the camera) 
Another rehearsal done at Camp Nou. 
Bono 'salutes' Hume / The John Hume mural - Irish rock legend Bono has saluted John Hume prior to the unveiling of his mural in the Bogside today. In a message to the Nobel Laureate, apologising for his non-attendance at the event, Bono praises Hume for his contribution to the peace process. It reads: "We have a simple rule in U2. If John Hume asks, just say yes. As Dr. King, using leadership, changed the United States, so, too, did this man for the people of Ireland. We salute you." The mural - located on Rossville Street opposite Pilot's Row Community Centre - will be unveiled this afternoon by retired Bishop of Derry, Dr. Edward Daly. The painting - the brainchild of the Bogside Artists - also includes images of high-profile peacemakers Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa. 
The signs are good in Barcelona... and they're all pointing to the stage. 
Second 
Today is the 64th birthday of Burma's imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi and U2, Paul McCartney, George Clooney and a host of others have been posting their 64 word messages of support on a dedicated website. The Nobel Peace Laureate will spend her birthday in detention - her 14th birthday in detention. Add your own message of support. The message from U2 is adapted from their 2001 single Walk On, which is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi: 'Packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been/A place that has to be believed to be seen/You could have flown away/A singing bird in an open cage/Who will only fly, fly for freedom/Walk on, walk on/What you've got they can't deny it/Can't sell it, can't buy it/Walk on, walk on/Stay safe tonight.' George Clooney, David Beckham, Julia Roberts, Daniel Craig and Richard Branson have also posted 64 word messages - along with thousands of other supporters. Paul McCartney said that Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to her country and to the rest of the world. 'I truly admire her infallible resolve and her determination to stand up for what she believes in. It is vital that Aung San Suu Kyi is released so that she can govern the people who elected her and give Burma back the freedom we all take for granted.' The 64 word messages are being added to a dedicated campaign website. You can add your own here. 
Drum Roll: Larry's kit arrives at Camp Nou.
If you build it, they will come. Less than a fortnight to the tour and we're at Camp Nou in Barcelona.
It's a beautiful day at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The sun is shining, U2's 360 Tour production is coming to life... and the new stage is something to behold. 'Seeing it here is something else,' says Jake Berry, the band's Production Director. 'I think jaws are going to drop when people come through those doors on the opening night.' Jake's been working in rock'n'roll for longer than he cares to remember but says he's never seen anything as ambitious. 'Every show has a wow factor but this wow is going to last longer!' Tour architect Mark Fisher, who has been collaborating with Show Designer Willie Williams since the 1990's, says his main feeling when he finally saw it in the stadium was relief. Why ? 'Because it fits, we built it the right size!' 'I think it will take people's breath away when they arrive, a real statement that U2 are in town, but when the band come on stage it will disappear, it will all be about that communication between band and audience.' We'll be bringing you reports, photos and video from Barcelona in the run up to opening night on June 30th. Meantime we grabbed a quick word with Willie too, who told us that seeing it finally come off the page and into the stadium is 'pretty extraordinary.' I'm just glad we don't have to take it on tour...' 
Getting ready to roll at Flight Case Central.
